Bermuda’s historic first appearance in the World Cup Cricket finals ended in crushing defeat yesterday.

But not even a 243-run loss to Test nation Sri Lanka — the second largest in tournament history — could wipe the smiles off the faces of hundreds of Bermuda fans who were determined to enjoy the day no matter what.

While the 17,000-capacity Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain was less than quarter full for the opening match in World Cup Group B, it was the boisterous bunch of Bermudians, most seated together in the Stollemeyer stand, who gave the day a carnival atmosphere.

With every wicket taken by a Bermuda bowler, every boundary hit by a Bermuda batsmen, huge cheers echoed around the ground — TV cameras frequently focusing on the cardboard cut-out head of Bermuda spinner Dwayne Leverock which fans lifted into the air each time the team’s ‘heavyweight champ’ made his presence on the field felt.

Unfortunately, Leverock spilled two catches — one that would have dismissed Sri Lanka skipper and top scorer Mahela Jayawardene on the first ball he faced — which might have significantly reduced the margin of defeat.

Jayawardene went on to crack 85 in a third wicket partnership of 150 with wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara which laid the foundation for their team’s massive total of 321.

It was a total Bermuda’s bats never threatened, although the big-hitting Lionel Cann produced another box of fireworks in his top score of 28 which included a six off the man widely regarded as the world’s most lethal bowler, spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

Tailend batsman Kevin Hurdle treated the wily Sri Lankan with similar disdain, hoiking a huge six over the top of the Dos Santos Stand.It was moments like that which brought the fans to their feet — among them Premier Ewart Brown, Sports Minister Randy Horton, himself a former Cup Match skipper, and Minister of Social Rehabilitation Dale Butler, who was in charge of the sports ministry during Bermuda’s qualification for the World Cup.

But for the most part they were all forced to watch Bermuda play second fiddle against a team stacked with talent and who many feel can become world champions for the second time — they also won the tournament in 1996.

Coach Gus Logie, a Trinidadian and former West Indies middle order bat, who knows the Queen’s Park Oval better than most, must now attempt to lift his players as they prepare for what promises to be an equally daunting challenge against India at the same Port of Spain ground on Monday.

Once again their chances of victory will be virtually non-existent, perhaps their best opportunity of notching a first World Cup success coming against Bangladesh in their final group game a week on Sunday.

However, that too will be a tall order.

As ever-smiling Bermuda skipper Irving Romaine said after yesterday’s defeat: “This is a new experience for us. But that’s cricket and we do intend to take each match as it comes.”